Harris County Jury Awards $21,200 in Rear-End Collision
A passenger in a car was injured when the vehicle they were in was hit from behind while slowing down on a freeway. The driver of the second car was accused of failing to control their speed and avoid the collision. The jury found the second driver negligent and awarded the passenger damages for past pain and suffering and past lost earnings.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Back Strain / Soft Tissue Injuries
Back strain and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. These injuries affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back, often resulting from the sudden impact forces experienced during a collision.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $21,200
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Back Strain / Soft Tissue
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence, Rear End Collision
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $21,200 is near the median of $13,980 for back strain / soft tissue cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $5,649 to $30,000, based on 1000 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On February 7, 2014, a rear-end collision occurred on U.S. 59 freeway near the Newcastle exit in Houston, Harris County, Texas. The plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle that was slowing to exit the freeway when it was struck from behind by a vehicle operated by the defendant.
The plaintiff filed a vehicular negligence action, alleging the defendant failed to properly operate and control the vehicle, apply brakes in time, take evasive action, and control speed. The plaintiff claimed to have sustained cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sprain and strain, cervical and lumbar radiculitis, and headaches following the accident. The defendant denied all allegations of negligence and disputed that the plaintiff's claimed injuries were causally related to the incident.
After hearing the arguments, a jury found the defendant negligent. The plaintiff was awarded $13,200 for past pain and suffering and $8,000 for past lost earnings, resulting in a total judgment of $21,200.
Understanding This Case
- The majority of soft tissue injuries resolve within 6-12 weeks with proper treatment. However, approximately 10-20% of cases may develop into chronic conditions requiring ongoing care.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2019, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome aligns very well with similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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